Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Hand Me Down ❯ Part II ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Here is Part II. It goes directly from Part I. This whole fic will be like that, because it is so lengthy that I am sectioning it off into parts. Really it's just one long, chronological one-shot. I'll tell you if it's otherwise.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or the song "Hand Me Down" by Matchbox 20.

Hand Me Down: Part II

Sally was seated at a small table after Wufei assured her that he would order. Now that she was alone and without the company of her partner, everything that happened weighed heavily on her shoulders and chest. It seemed she was constantly aching with fierce emotion. She wasn't sure how to feel, except one feeling outweighed them all. Above all, she felt shame. Shame at herself for letting her guard down, if just for a moment. Under her self-loathe was betrayal, felt towards the friends who had so easily forgotten her, leaving her behind as peace reigned freely. She must have been born blind to fall so easily.

"How could I have been so stupid!" she berated herself in an angry whisper, raw emotion causing her voice to rise higher than its normal pitch, and brought an alien hoarseness.

"Must be an annoying habit of yours," came Wufei's gentle remark as he sat across from his partner, studying her intently. She heard the amusement in his voice, and decided that he must be trying to cheer her up with that wholesome Chang sarcasm. Lovely.

He had set a tray in the center of the small oak table, and Sally couldn't help her honest curiosity at what the ex-pilot had ordered them. There were two drinks: each green tea, she noted absently. Her mother used to make green tea whenever she had been upset.

Once, an eight-year old Sally had come home crying from school. Her mother had been concerned, because it took quite a lot to make her tough little girl cry. Sally had (amid sniffles) told her mother about the fight she got in at school. The children had made fun of her blonde hair and blue eyes, so finally Sally had hauled off and decked a particularly snotty boy. She had broken his nose. Her teacher had suspended her from participating in any after-school activities, because what Sally had done was wrong. This meant that the little blonde girl could no longer partake in the various sports teams she took part in.

"I was only bringing him to justice," the small girl had sniffled with some amount of indignation. Her mother had shaken her head sadly, before heading out into the kitchen. She had come back with two mugs of green tea, and sat across from Sally, squatting so she was at eye-level.

That was where Sally had gotten most of her ideals: from the long talks with her mother.

The Chinese woman was brought out of her sorrowful musings when she heard Wufei calling her name. Her vision refocused, and she could see his deep obsidian eyes staring intently at her.

"I thought I lost you for a second there," he told her somewhat gruffly, but again she noted the hidden amusement in his tone. Sally's fingers slipped around the warm cup of tea he offered her. The warmth seeped through the material, offering some comfort to her chilled fingers. She gave a nod at his remark, but offered no explanation. Instead, she tipped the cup back and took a sip of her tea. The slightly bitter liquid slid down her throat, and she found that the familiar feeling offered her some semblance of comfort.

They'll tell you everything you wanted someone else to say

They're gonna break your heart

A glance at the table told Sally that she must have really got lost in her memories. Her partner had long since set the food out, and was actually in mid-bite when he caught her gaze. She offered him a wavery smile, before setting her cup down and starting on the soup in front of her. She found the concoction slid easily down her throat, warming her up from the inside. She smiled pleasantly upon discovering it was broccoli cheese soup. The creamy texture seemed to ease her stomach, which had been in tight knots ever since she had been at work.

The setting of the small restaurant was exceptionally quiet, and yet, there seemed to be a certain hum filling the air, a low murmur that didn't disturb one's thoughts, but neither did it allow absolute peace. Sally found herself enjoying the unusual atmosphere, and this time when she caught Wufei's gaze her smile was genuine. She allowed a feeling of tranquility to wash over her as she ate quietly, forgetting all that had happened earlier that morning, and allowing herself a few moments of blissful ignorance.

Setting down her utensil after finishing her last spoonful of soup, Sally glanced up to find Wufei glancing over her shoulder. She followed the gaze of his obsidian eyes and caught sight of a slightly altered, yet familiar face.

For just inside the doorway of the restaurant, Quatre Raberba Winner stood leisurely, hands hidden in the pockets of his khaki pants. He had grown slightly taller, but other than that he hadn't changed a bit. He still had the wispy blonde hair and large, expressive blue eyes. He caught sight of the Preventer duo and offered a small smile, making his way towards their table.

"Hello," he greeted warmly, pulling up an extra chair and seating himself on a vacant side of the table. "How have you two been?" Sally looked towards the Chinese man, and he answered for both of them.

"Things are pretty good," Wufei answered conversationally. "Things have definitely slowed down." Quatre nodded in understanding.

"Paperwork's real dull, isn't it?" the blonde Arab commented rhetorically, a half-smile alighting his kind features. The Winner heir had become quite accustomed to the torturous paperwork.

And then, to Wufei's horror, he added, "I didn't see you at Zechs and Miss Noin's wedding, Wufei." The Chinese man shot a look at his partner, who avoided his gaze.

Sally stood abruptly with a mumbled "excuse me," making a beeline for the restroom in the corner of the cozy restaurant. The door swung open under the weak pressure she applied, and she immediately sought sanctuary in one of the empty stalls. She didn't hear any sounds, indicating that she was the only one present in the tiny room. She tried to berate herself for losing her cool, but ultimately failed as she fell into sorrow.

The tawny-haired woman had never felt so weak before. And it wasn't just weakness; she also felt the anxious feeling of vulnerability weighing heavily on her shoulders. The cliché "carrying the world on your shoulders" came to mind, and the popular phrase made Sally feel even more saddened. No one enjoyed feeling this exposed, especially when it was an foreign feeling. Hopelessly, the young woman began contemplating to herself...wondering just when she had lost control.

Sally walked out of the stall resolutely, standing in front of the bathroom mirror. Turning on the faucet, she splashed handfuls of the cold, refreshing water onto her skin. Feeling somewhat better, she dried her face on a paper towel and walked out of the bathroom.

The table the duo had been seated at was clear of leftovers. Wufei stood calmly by the cafe door, and Quatre was nowhere in sight. Sally mentally chastised herself for walking away so quickly. It really would have been nice to talk to Quatre for a while. She hadn't seen him in so long, and she followed the news in order to check up on the Arabian every once in awhile. She knew he was doing quite well, and her heart was glad for him.

The pair left the tiny cafe, mounting Wufei's motorcycle once more.

"So, what did Quatre have to say?" the young woman inquired, sliding her arms around his waist as the bike's engine revved to life. He turned his head slightly and gave her a calculating gaze with his intense eyes.

"Not much," the Chinese man replied, swerving out of the small parking lot and turning off the exit, entering the long stretch of highway once more. Wind rushed about them, tousling their hair, bound though it was.

Sally let out a sigh that went unheard as the wind viciously ripped it from her lips and carried it away. She noted absently that they were leaving a different way then they had come, but trust in her partner didn't allow worry to hold a place in her mind. Instead, she focused her thoughts on this strange position she only now realized she was placed in. She never before realized how utterly alone she was, and how independent she must be in order to have maintained this status.

Everyone has always relied on me, Sally thought bitterly. They used me while they needed me, and simply discarded me afterwards. She felt tears stinging in the back of her eyes, and she buried her face in Wufei's back so they wouldn't fall. I was a fool to try and rely on them, she admitted to herself, venom seeping into her thoughts. How foolish she had been!

Sally lifted her head as she felt their speed quicken considerably. However, her limited view of the back of his head left her wondering just why they had picked up speed. The sound of sirens filled her ears, and she rested her forehead against Wufei's back and groaned. What compelled him to try and pick up a speeding ticket, anyway?

Wufei pulled the motorcycle to the side of the road, waiting patiently as the cop car stopped its blaring sirens and parked behind the bike. A uniformed officer walked over to the two Preventers. The officer had brown hair that fell over on one side of his face, and a bright emerald eye was visible from the other side.

"Of all the officers," Wufei said in greeting, sparing the ex-Gundam pilot a nod, "I would have to get pulled over by you." His tone was considerably light, though his words sounded accusing. Sally's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized former pilot Trowa Barton standing in front of them from where he had gotten out of the squad car. The Chinese woman chuckled inwardly with wry humor: they had been bumping into a whole lot of people today. It was terribly coincidental.

Yeah, from what I've seen you're just one more hand-me-down.

'Cause no one tried to give you what you need.

"How have you been, Trowa?" Sally inquired, releasing Wufei's waist and leaning back on the motorcycle seat. Her hands were propped up behind her to keep her from tumbling over backwards.

"Fine," the officer answered. "But I go by Triton now." Wufei shifted on the seat of the bike. His feet were propped on either side of the bike, keeping it upright.

"I take it the blood tests resulted positively?" the Chinese Preventer inquired, shoving his hands into the pockets of his Preventer jacket. He felt his partner turn to him inquisitively, but didn't acknowledge the silent question.

"Yes," Trowa/Triton replied with a small nod. "Catherine is now legally my sister." Sally smiled encouragingly, and Wufei offered a nod. Trowa had always considered Catherine a sister, whether or not the general public recognized it. The proof was just an affirmation of what they already knew.

Sally rubbed the back of her neck in slight nervousness. "How fast were we going?" Her partner in crime smirked, and the comment even brought a small smile of amusement from the stoic policeman.

"95 miles an hour in a 60 mile an hour zone," he responded, dipping his head in Wufei's direction. "But since it's your first time I'll let you off with a warning." Sally grinned, and Wufei just shook his head, keeping silent. Giving them another nod, Trowa turned and headed back to the squad car.

Sally was happy for the young officer. He could finally trace his roots, and he finally had a name he could call his own. He may not have memories of his past, but he could always make new ones with his family-first of heart, then later as blood.

She was broken out of her train of thought when she felt the motorcycle jerk forward underneath her. With a small noise of surprise she threw her arms around Wufei's torso to keep from flying off the edge. She secured one of her arms and used the other to smack him in the back of the head.

"That wasn't funny!" she shouted, trying to be heard over the noise of the engine and the wind rushing past them. Wufei turned and smirked, pretending he hadn't heard her.

Pulling off the highway onto a stretch of country road, the Preventer pair drove in silence, unable to talk over the air rushing past them. One knew precisely where the road was taking them, while one basked in blissful ignorance. The latter was recalling a time when she had been completely in ignorance's company. In fact, though it sounds long, it had been mere hours since she had woken up to cold reality. For some reason that made her feel extremely foolish.

Wufei's hands gripped the handlebars tightly, the action turning his bronze knuckles a pale white. It just didn't seem fair to him that Sally should have to be put through so much. She had helped him through his trials and weaknesses, and he had ultimately grown from those experiences. She was no longer a mentor figure in his eyes, for he had matured in her guidance. It seemed the ages between them had disappeared.

But who was there to guide Sally? She was so reliable and trustworthy, but who was there to hold her up if she should collapse? Who would be there to help put together the shattered pieces of her heart, if it should break? It seemed Sally was always there for everyone...but no one was there for her. To Wufei, that seemed terribly unjust, and justice was something he always strove for in his life. But where was justice and fairness in times like these? No one said life was fair, but-damn, why did it happen to Sally?

A/N: That concludes Part II.

In Part III, Wufei shares his past horrors of the Alliance attack on A0206…and Sally tells of her connection. But will he forgive her, or will he leave her like everyone else?

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